Postage-stamp tongs.



A. E. JENNINGS.

POSTAGE STAMP TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 30. 1913.

1 ,287,329:, Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

iNV TOR ATTORNEY ALFRED EDWARD JENNINGS, 0F FARMINGDALE, NEW JERSEY.

POSTAGE-STAMP Tones.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application filed March 30, 1918. Serial No. 225,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. JENNINGS, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Farmingdale, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postage- Stamp Tongs Used for Philatelic Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description, such as will enable others Y skilled in the art to which it pertalns to one end of said device being so constructed as to provide a receiving pocket, for a paper hinge, said receiving pocket being normally closed, and an operating lever located upon one of said jaws or limbs, whereby pressure applied upon the finger piece of said operating lever will cause one of the jaws to be opened, in order that the said hinge may be received into and properly positioned in said pocket.

A further object of my invention is the production of a device of this character, provided with means for facilitating the correct locating on the backs of postage stamps, of the positions for the dates of the issue of the stamps, and a predetermined legible point'whereto to attach the gummed adhesive hinges, used to secure said stamps in albums,

and furthermore to improve the manner of preparation, presentation and adjustment of the said hinges to the backs of postage stamps.

With this end in view, my invention consists in certain novelties of construction and arrangement of parts, as herein set forth and pointed out in the claims.

While the preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, yet it is to be understood that minor changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved device, illustrating, in dotted lines, the manner in which a gummed hinge is held betweenthe jaws of the normally closed pocket, preparatory to creasing the same.

Fig. 2' represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the device, the handle member to which the operating lever is secured being removed to more clearly illustrate the spacing element forming the hinge receiving pocket and the hinge positioned means which is interposed between the two jaws or limbs, and

Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, a. plan view and an edge view of the hinge intended to be used with my improved device.

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings. l

In the drawings 1 and 2 represent the two jaws or limbs of the tongs, ending in the usual nipper ends 33. The opposite ends of the jaws l and 2 are formed to provide square ends 4 4 preferably of a convenientwidth corresponding approximately with the width of the gummed hinge 5, with which they are to be employed. The jaws or limbs 1 and 2 of the tongs, are preferably made from spring metal, and the flattened ends H thereof, taper inwardly with the edges meeting, so as to form a normally closed pocket in connection with the spacing element 6.

The jaws 1 and 2 are secured together by means of a. spacing element 6 formed from any suitable piece of material, interposed between the members 1 and 2, and rigidly secured thereto, by solder, electrically welding or in any desired or convenient manner. This spacing element 6 forms a pivot which connects the limbs 1 and 2 to provide the closed ends H and the open nipper ends 3-3. The upper edge of the spacing element 6 is preferably concaved as at 7 to correspond in a measure, with the rounded end 8 of the gummed hinge, and againstwhich said rounded edgeS abuts, and which forms a convenient stop for the edge of the gummed hinge, and by means of which it is properly positioned between the ends 4-4 of the jaws or limbs 1 and 2.

It will thus be observed that the ends 4i are normally closed, nd that the interposition of the spacing element 6 between the limbs or jaws 1 and 2 provides a closed end of the normally closed receiving pocket 9 for the reception of the gummed hinge 5.

Rigidly secured upon the outer face of the jaw or limb 2, in any desired or convenient manner, is one end of an operating lever 10, the free end of which terminates in a finger piece, the first named end of said lever being so located and secured to the jaw that when pressure is applied to the finger piece it will cause the flattened ends 4 of the device to which said finger piece is secured to be opened in order that the said hinge 5 may be received into and properly positioned in said pocket 9.

The parts are preferably made from sheet metal and are of such shape as to lend themselves readily to manufacture by the use of ordinary tools and dies. The jaw or limb 2 upon its face, and in close proximity to its end is further provided with the following inscription Hinge along one edge of the jaw, and Date alon the opposite edge of the jaw, the words inge and Date be ing inclosed in scale points 1212, marked on the face of the jaw 2.

From the foregoing description it will thus be seen that I have provided a postage stamp tongs used for philatelic purposes, the const ruction of which provides at one end thereof, a hinge receiving pocket provided with outer square ends, and an inner concaved end adapted to receive and position the hinge after pressure has been applied to the finger piece of the operating lever, which is connected to the outer face of one of the jaws or limbs of the device, ressure of which causes the normally Elosefl hinge receiving pocket to open, and after the hinge has been received and positioned therein, by releasing the pressure on the finger piece of the operating lever, the hinge is securely held in adjusted position by means of the ends at& of the device, pre paratory to creasing the hinge to provide a predetermined legible point whereto to attach the gummed adhesive hinge, used to se cure stamps in albums or the like. Furthermore, the inscriptions and graduations on the outer face of the limb provide means for locating on. the backs of postage stamps a position for dates of issue or the like.

Experience has demonstrated that the organization above described is a highly eflicient one, and while I have shown the preferred embodiment of my present invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as

obvious modifications thereof, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made by any skilled mechanic, and such departures from what is herein set forth, I consider within the scope and terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A pair of postage stamp tongs 00111- prising a pair of limbs, the front ends thereof, being flattened and tapering inwardly with their edges meeting, a spacing element interposed between and secured to the inner faces of said limbs in close proximity to said ends for normally keeping said ends closed to form a hinge receiving pocket, and the opposite ends of said limbs apart, and an operating lever secured to one of said flattened and tapered ends of one of said limbs, adapted when pressure is applied thereto, to move said end out of engagement with the other end.

2. A pair of postage stamp tongs comprising a pair of limbs, the front ends thereof, bein flattened and tapering inwardly with their edges meeting, a spacing element, one end of which is provided with a concaved edge interposed between and secured to the inner faces of said limbs, in close proximity to said ends for normally keeping said ends closed to form a hinge receiving pocket, and the opposite ends of said limbs apart, and an operating lever secured to one of said flattened and tapering ends of one of said limbs, adapted when pressure is applied thereto, to move said end out of engagement with the other end.

3. A pair of postage stamp tongs comprising a pair of limbs, bent inwardly and flattened at one end, a spacing element interposed between and secured to the inner faces of said limbs to normally hold the other ends of said limbs apart, and the first named ends of said limbs together, and means secured to the outside of one of the inwardly bent limbs, in close proximity to the spacing element, adapted when pressure is applied thereto, to move the end of said limb out of engagement with the other end of the limb.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED EDIVARD JENNINGS.

Witnesses JOHN R. ALLAIRE, WM. S. RUssnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0. 

